A California woman went on a tirade against airline workers and escaped an airplane through the emergency exit and inflatable slide just before takeoff in Buffalo, New York on Tuesday.
The woman, Cynthia McKnight, reportedly ran around on the airport tarmac before being apprehended by police, according to WIBV 4. McKnight’s flight was on board an American Airlines flight bound for Chicago.
“Cynthia McKnight faces a number of charges including disorderly conduct, harassment, trespass and criminal mischief,” NFTA Director of Public Affairs Helen Tederous told News 4. “According to detectives, McKnight actually opened the cabin door of the plane. The American Airlines flight was on route to Chicago.”
And off into the sunset she goes folks 😂 pic.twitter.com/ig4FFtE5An
— Spencer Brown (@TooTallo_o) April 19, 2022
The pilot was forced to return the plane to the gate following the incident.
McKnight’s daring escape comes as airline workers are seeing an uptick in unruly passengers, with many of the encounters centering on masking.
Major airlines ended mask requirements on Monday after a federal judge in Florida struck down President Joe Biden’s mask mandate covering airplanes, airports, and public transportation.
